Attaching means for hot top bottom ring



1965 A. G. POLENSCHAT ATTACHING MEANS FOR HOT TOP BOTTOM RING Filed Jan.23, 1962 W M i w/ 1 I 2 U a M W? rrolez y United States Patent f3,199,830 ATTACHING MEANS Fill? HUT T9? BOTTGM RING Albert G.Pelenschat, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to @giebay Norton Company,Cleveland, Ghio, a corporation of Delaware Filed lien. 23, 1962, Ser.No. 168,283 4- Clairns. (Cl. 249-262) This invention relates to clipsfor attaching securely a refractory bottom ring to the lower end of acomposite hot top.

Hot tops are used in conjunction with ingot molds in the pouring ofmolten metal into the molds to produce ingots as is well understood inthe art, and the purpose of the hot top is to provide a reservoir ofmolten metal to supply the shrinkage cavity or pipe in the solidifyingingot with molten metal.

The invention particularly relates to clips for attaching the refractorybottom rings of composite hot tops, that is hot tops having reusablemetal casings provided with refractory linings and on the lower ends ofwhich casings the refractory bottom rings are secured, all as is wellunderstood in the art.

The refractory bottom rings heretofore have been attached to the lowerends of the metal casings of composite hot tops by wire clips as, forexample, the clips shown in Charman et al. United States Patent No.1,949,292, February 27, 1934, and in Charman Patent No. 2,080,848, May18, 1937.

Hot tops are provided in varying sizes related to the openings in theingot molds with which the hot tops will be used, such openings varyingsubstantially from small size openings to large size openings. Due tothis difference in the sizes of the hot tops, the refractory bottomrings for use with such a differing size range of hot tops varysubstantially in horizontal cross-sectional widths and require for thevarious crosssections sizes suitably dimensioned wire clips. This meansthat a large variety of attaching clip shapes and sizes are needed as inmany plants the number of different mold sizes and correspondingly ofhot top and refractory bottom ring sizes will vary from three to adozen. This means that a plant must carry a tremendous inventory ofdifferent size attaching clips necessitating considerable diligence inmaintaining an adequate stock of such clips and the properidentification thereof.

The present invention contemplates wire attaching clips for therefractory rings used with composite hot tops which are so constructedthat a relatively few different sizes of the clips are sufficient tocover the wide variations in the size range of hot tops, bottom ringsand mold openings, thus reducing and simplifying the required inventoryin a plant of the attaching clips.

The invention further contemplates the provision of wire attaching clipsas just referred to and which clips are so constructed as to elficientlyperform functionally the results now obtained with the multiple sizes ofclips and to act to maintain the refractory bottom ring secured to thelower end of the metal casing of the composite hot top with a strong andeffective holding tension.

More particularly the invention contemplates wire attaching clips of thecharacter referred to which when applied to various sized refractorybottom rings to hold the same connected to the metal casings ofcomposite hot 3,19%,83 Patented Aug. 10, 1955 tops can be twisted toholding position with respect to the different sized bottom rings andthe twisting of the clips produces therein a torsion which acts toprovide a torsional spring effect and force that anchors the attachingclips to the refractory bottom rings of different horizontal widths.

The wire attaching clips embodying the invention attain the advantagesand objects above referred to and also those which will hereinafter bementioned or become apparent during the following detailed descriptionof specific embodiments of the invention and which are illustrated inthe accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification andwherein,

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of one form of wire attaching clipembodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but of a slightly different form.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view through a portion of an inverted compositehot top, on the lower end of which the bottom ring has been placed, andshows the attaching clip of FIG. 1 in full line elevation as it isinitially connected to the clip bushing in the metal casing of thecomposite hot top, and in dot and dash lines after the at taching cliphas been swung or twisted from the full line position to its finalfastening position wherein its opposite ends are connected respectivelyto the metal casing of the hot top and to the refractory bottom FIG. 4is a sectional view of that portion of the composite hot top shown inFIG. 3 and after the hot top has been turned from inverted to uprightposition and the attaching clip is shown in full lines in the securingposition it occupies in dot and dash lines in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a plan View of the bottom ring shown in FIG. 3 and the initialposition of the attaching clip after it has been swung or twisted acrossthe lower face of the bottom ring is indicated in dash lines while thefinal position of the attaching clip after it has been torsionallytwisted into spring-like holding engagement with the bottom ring isshown in full lines, the bottom ring of FIG. 5 representing a relativelywide bottom ring.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but illustrates the attaching clipapplied to a substantially narrower bottom ring than the one shown inFIG. 5, and

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of FIG. 3 and illustrates in dash and dotlines the various positions that the wire attaching clip will assume asit is torsionally twisted to bring it into final holding attachment withthe bottom ring and the clip bushing of the hot top casing.

The attaching clip shown in FIG. 1 comprises a vertical leg 15 and ahorizontal leg 11 integral with the vertical leg. The attaching clip ofFIG. 1 is shown as provided with a relief or offset portion 11a in thehorizontal leg 11 and adjacent to its junction with the vertical leg 16.The free end of the vertical leg lib is provided with an angular hookportion 12 while the free end of the horizontal leg 11 has a right anglevertical portion 13 at the free end of which is a short horizontalportion 13a. The attaching clip preferably is formed of suitably gangedtempered steel wire which when applied to the bottom ring and hot topand torsionally twisted to bring it into fully applied position willpossess the desired torsion spring efiect.

The wire attaching clip of FIG. 2 is identical with the attaching clipof FIG. 1, except that the relief or offset portion 11:: is omitted inthe clip of FIG. 2.

In the portion of the composite hot top shown in the drawing the metalcasing of the hot top is indicated at 14 and the refractory liningthereof at 15. The refractory bottom ring which interfits the lower endof the hot top casing and refractory lining 15 is indicated at 16 and onits inner periphery is provided with a shoulder 17.

The metal casing 14 of the composite hot top is provided with clipreceiving bushings 18 spaced around the hot top and of the requirednumber to receive the hook portions 12 of the attaching clips that areused to secure the bottom ring 16 to the casing. The structure of thecomposite hot top and refractory bottom ring are well known and need notbe more specifically referred to.

Also, as is well known in preparing the composite hot top for a pouringoperation, the hot top casing is mounted on a preparation stand ininverted positionand the ring is then placed against the lower end ofthe casing, which at this time is uppermost as indicated in FIG. 3.

The attaching clips embodying the invention are applied by firstinserting the hook portions 12 of. the vertical legs 11) of theattaching clips in the bushings 18 as indicated in FIG. 3, at which timethe vertical legs 19 are angularly disposed relative to the outervertical face of the casing and have the horizontal legs 11 projectingoutwardly.

The hook 12 at the free end' of the vertical leg 10 of each clip and theshort vertical portion 13 and horizontal portion 13a at the free end ofthe horizontal leg 11 of each.

clip all lie in the same plane. This arrangement is important inconnection with the functioning of the clips when they have been rotatedor twisted into bottom ring securing position.

The attaching clips embodying the invention would be produced in severalsizes as, for instance, two or three sizes, with respect to the lengthof the horizontal legs 11. In each of the sizes the horizontal legs 11would have a length so as to be adapted to extend across and beyond thehorizontal cross-sectional width of a number of different sizes ofbottom ring cross sections coming within a given size range so that theportions 13 and 13a of the clips may be located inwardly of the innerperiphery of the bottom rings in a position from which the horizontallegs are released for movement by spring forces to final ring-en agingand holding position.

In applying the clips to a hot top the hooks 12 are positioned in theclip bushings 18 of the hot top casing, as indicated in full lines inFIG. 3. Then .with the hooks 12 in the bushings 18 the clips are rotatedto-cause the horizontal legs 11 thereof to first extend horizontallyacross the lower face of the bottom ring and to dispose the portions 13,13a of the legs 11 inwardly of the inner periphery of the bottom ring.This rotation sets up torsion bar spring forces in the spring leg 10which tend to return the spring leg 11. The relative position of theparts at this time is illustrated in broken lines in FIGS. and 6, withthe bottom ring 16 of FIG. 5 being Wider than the bottom ring 16 of FIG.6, but both bottom rings being in the size range for the particular siZeclip illustrated. After the horizontal legs 11 have been moved to thebroken line position shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. 6, they are released formovement as indicated by the arrows in said views until the portions 13,13a of the legs 11 engage the inner periphery of the bottom ring. Thespring forces acting to hold portions 13 and 13a tight against thebottom ring to prevent displacement of the clip and the loosening of thebottom ring from the casting are a combined torsional spring effect inspring leg 19 due to the initial twisting of the clip and a leaf springeffect in leg 11.

In those instances wherein the inner periphery of the bottom ring isprovided with the recessed shoulder 17, the portions 13, 13a of thehorizontal legs interfit the recessed inner periphery, with the portions13a engaging with the shoulder 17.

Angular displacement or twisting of the leg 11 pro- 4 duces a torsionbar spring effect in leg 19 and a cantilever spring effect in leg 11,both of which are greatest for a wide ring. It will be noted that in thetwisting of the vertical legs 10, the hooks 12 in the bushings 18 willonly have limited swinging movement within the diametral limits of thebushings and in effect the hooks 12 become stationary as the torsionaltwist is imparted to the vertical legs 10. This is illustrated in FIG. 7by the various broken line positions of the hooks 12. v

The advantages of attaching clips embodying the invention will be seenwhen it is considered that today the bottom rings usually employed inthe steel industry vary in width from two to six inches. This variationin bottom ring size has necessitated the use of approximately sixteendilferent sizes of attaching clips, that is, attaching clips havinghorizontal legs of sixteen different lengths.

Clips embodying the present invention could be sized with respect to thelengths of their horizontal legs so that not more than three differentsize clips would be required for the entire range of bottom ring sizes.This advantage is accomplished by the novel utilization of torsionallytwisting the clips so as to enable one size clip to efficiently functionwith respect to a plurality of sizes of bottom rings coming within agiven size range. I

The twist that is imparted to the vertical legs of the attaching clipsembodying the invention produces a substantial torsional spring effectin the clips that enables the same size clip to eifectively andefficiently retain its holding position and engagement with a variety ofdifferent size bottom rings within a given size range. only would thecustomer or user of the clips avoid the inventory problem of keeping instock a substantial num ber of different size clips, but also therewould be the. advantage of lower costs in purchasing the clips becauseof reduced manufacturing cost. Since only two or three sizes of clipsare needed the manufacturer would require fewer and less expensive dieswith a reduced number of machine setups for the different dies and alsolower in-. ventory and shipping costs.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustratedand described herein, it will be understood that the invention is not tobe limited to the specific forms of clips illustrated and described,except insofar as the scope of the appended claims so limits it.

' Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In combination, a bottom ring for a hot top casing and an attachingclip for attaching the bottom ring to the underside of the hot topcasing, saidclip being of spring wire and comprising'a hook portion atone end for reception in a receiving opening in the hot top casing, agenerally vertical elongated leg extending downwardly from said hookportion, and a generally horizontal ring engaging and supporting portionat the lower end of said vertical leg which extends angularly from saidvertical leg underneath said ring to engage the underside of the ringand support the bottom ring against the underside of the casing, saidhook and bottom ring engaging portions having first angularly relatedpositions when attaching said bottom ring to a hot top casing in whichsaid vertical leg is torsioned and urges said portions to swing todifferent angularly related positions where said vertical leg isuntorsioned, said portions having said different angularly relatedpositions whensaid clip, casing and ring are unassembled, said ringengaging and supporting portion having a stop portion engaging agenerally vertical inner surface on said ring to resist the swinging ofsaid ring engaging and supporting portion outwardly of said ring whensaid vertical leg is torsioned and said hook portion being dimensionedrelative to said receiving opening to be limited against being swung outof said opening by the torsion in said vertical leg.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said,

ring engaging and supporting portion hasa length greater than theannular width of said ring and said stop portion Not extends upwardly toengage the inner periphery of said ring.

3. A bottom ring clip for use in combination with a hot top casing and abottom ring to attach the bottom ring to the casing, said clip being ofspring wire and having a hook portion adapted to be received in anopening in the casing and dimensioned to be held against swinging out ofthe opening, a vertical leg portion extending downwardly from said hookportion, and a horizontal leg portion extending horizontally from saidvertical leg portion to engage the underside of said ring and supportthe latter, said hook portion and horizontal leg portion having naturalrelative positions different from their relative positions for attachingthe bottom ring to the casing and movable to the latter relativepositions by twisting said vertical leg portion to torsion it, saidhorizontal leg portion having a stop portion for engaging a verticalinner surface of said ring for preventing the torsion in said verticalleg portion from swinging the horizontal leg out of position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 918,017 4/09Davis 24237 2,080,848 5/37 Charman 22-447 3,014,254 12/61 Marcec 22-1473,044,133 7/62 Marcec 22-147 FOREIGN PATENTS 11/ 19 Denmark.

6/55 France.

WILLIAM J. STEPHENSON, Primary Examiner.

MICHAEL V. BRINDISL MARCUS U. LYONS,

Examiners.

1. IN COMBINATION, A BOTTOM RING FOR A HOT TOP CASING AND AN ATTACHING CLIP FOR ATTACHIGN THE BOTTOM RING TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE HOT TOP CASING, SAID CLIP BEING OF SPRING WIRE AND COMPRISING A HOOK PORTION AT ONE END FOR RECEPTION IN A RECEIVING OPENING IN THE HOT TOP CASING, A GENERALLY VERTICAL ELONGATED LEG EXTENDING DOWN WARDLY FROM SAID HOOK PORTION, AND A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL RING ENGAGING AND SUPPORTING PORTION AT THE LOWER END OF SAID VERTICAL LEG WHICH EXTENDS ANGULARLY FROM SAID VERTICAL LEG UNDERNEATH SAID RING TO ENGAGE THE UNDERSIDE OF THE RING AND SUPPORT THE BOTTOM RING AGAINST THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CASING, SAID HOOK AND BOTTOM RING ENGAGING PORTIONS HAVING FIRST ANGULARLY RELATED POSITIONS WHEN ATTACHING SAID BOTTOM RING TO A HOT TOP CASING IN WHICH SAID VERTICAL LEG IS TORSIONED AND URGES SAID PORTIONS TO SWING TO DIFFERENT ANGULARLY RELATED POSITIONS WHERE SAID VERTICAL LEG IS UNTORSIONED, SAID PORTIONS HAVING SAID DIFFERENT ANACCORDINGLY, THE VALUE OF "K" IS: GULARLY RELATED POSITIONS WHEN SAID CLIP, CASING AND RING ARE UNASSEMBLED, SAID RING ENGAGING AND SUPPORTING PORTION HAVING A STOP PORTION ENGAGING A GENERALLY VERTICAL INNER SURFACE ON SAID RING TO RESIST THE SWINGING OF SAID RING ENGAGING AND SUPPORTING PORTION OUTWARDLY OF SAID RING WHEN SAID VERTICAL LEG IS TORSIONED AND SAID HOOK PORTION BEING DIMENSIONED RELATIVE TO SAID RECEIVING OPENING TO BE LIMITED AGAINST BEING SWUNG OUT OF SAID OPENING BY THE TORSION IN SAID VERTICAL LEG. 